US5731062A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thermoplastic three-dimensional fiber network
Assignee: North Carolina State University
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Filing: 1995-12-22
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Granted: 1998-03-24
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Expires: 2015-12-22
Abstract
Abstract Three dimensional fiber networks which are semi-rigid and dimensionally stable are made from textile fabrics that have projections and optional depressions which are compressible and return to their original shape after being compressed. The fiber networks are made by the thermo-mechanical deformation of textile fabrics that are in turn made from thermoplastic fibers. The fiber networks have particular utility as cushioning and impact absorbing materials.
Inventors
- 👤 Dai W. Kim
- 👤 Joseph Steven Wiley Haas
- 👤 William Edward Bessey
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:59
CPC Classifications
D; D04; D04H; D04H1/00; B; B29; B29C; B29C51/00; B29C51/002; B29C51/004; D04B; D04B1/00; D04B1/14; D04B1/18; D04H13/00; D04H3/00; D04H3/02; D04H3/07; D10; D10B; D10B2503/00; D10B2503/04; D10B2503/041; D10B2503/06; D10B2505/00; D10B2505/08; D10B2505/10; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T428/00; Y10T428/24; Y10T428/24479; Y10T428/2457; Y10T428/24628; Y10T428/24636; Y10T428/24661; Y10T442/00; Y10T442/30; Y10T442/3008; Y10T442/3065; Y10T442/313; Y10T442/40; Y10T442/425
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A three-dimensional fiber network consisting of a textile fabric having a multiplicity of compressible projections having a shape selected from the group consisting of cones, truncated cones, pyramids having polygonal bases, truncated pyramids having polygonal bases, cylinders, prisms, spherical elements, and mixtures thereof which return substantially to their original shape after being compressed by 50%, said textile fabric comprising thermoplastic filaments, said filaments having a diameter of at least about 0.1 mm, said filaments in said fabric crossing over one another at intersections, said filaments at said intersections not being bonded, wherein said textile fabric is selected from the group consisting of knit and woven fabrics.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A three-dimensional fiber network consisting of a textile fabric having a multiplicity of compressible projections having a shape selected from the group consisting of cones, truncated cones, pyramids having polygonal bases, truncated pyramids having polygonal bases, cylinders, prisms, spherical elements, and mixtures thereof which return substantially to their original shape after being compressed by 50%, said textile fabric comprising thermoplastic filaments, said filaments having a diameter of at least about 0.1 mm, said filaments in said fabric crossing over one another at intersections, said filaments at said intersections not being bonded, wherein said textile fabric is selected from the group consisting of knit and woven fabrics.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fiber network recited in claim 1, said projections having apex points or flat tops, wherein said apex points or flat tops define a surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fiber network recited in claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic filaments are monofils.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fiber network recited in claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic filaments consist essentially of a thermoplastic polymer having a melting temperature in the range of about 80° C. to about 375° C.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The fiber network recited in claim 1, wherein the apparent density of said fiber network is less than about 10% of the density of said thermoplastic fiber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The fiber network recited in claim 4, wherein said thermoplastic polymer is selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides, thermoplastic copolyetherester elastomers, poly(arylene sulfides), polyolefins, aliphatic-aromatic polyamides, polyacrylates, and thermoplastic liquid crystalline polymers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The fiber network recited in claim 4, wherein said thermoplastic polymer is a thermoplastic copolyetherester elastomer comprising long chain ether ester units and short chain ester units joined head-to-tail through ester linkages.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The fiber network recited in claim 7 wherein said long chain ether ester units consist essentially of the residues of poly(tetramethylene oxide) glycol and terephthalic acid and said short chain ester units consist essentially of the residues of 1,4-butanediol and terephthalic acid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The fiber network recited in claim 4, wherein said thermoplastic polymer is poly(ethylene terephthalate).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fiber network recited in claim 4, wherein said thermoplastic polymer is selected from polypropylene, nylon 6, or nylon 66.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The fiber network recited in claim 1, wherein said network also comprises depressions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
The fiber network recited in claim 11, said depressions having apex points or flat tops, wherein said apex points or flat tops define a surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fiber network recited in claim 1, said filaments having a diameter in the range of about 0.15 mm to about 0.7 mm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The fiber network recited in claim 4, wherein said thermoplastic polymer contains a flame retardant.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fiber network recited in claim 9, wherein said poly(ethylene terephthalate) comprises up to about 5% of monomer units that contain phosphorous.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The fiber network as recited in claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic filaments comprise multifilament yarns that have coalesced to form said thermoplastic filaments.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The fiber network as recited in claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic filaments do not include a thermoset resin.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-03-23 | 2001-09-22 | 2002-03-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-03-23 | 2005-09-22 | 2006-03-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-03-23 | 2009-09-22 | 2010-03-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |